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THE FURTHER ADVENTURES OF O'NEILL IN HOLLAND.
Books by CUEY-NA-GAEL:
An Irishman's Difficulties in Speaking Dutch.
Deze humor deed aan het beste van Jerome denken.
(_Nieuwe Courant_).
Ingenaaid =90 cts.= Gebonden =f 1,25=.
Ireland, its Humour and Pathos.
A most interesting study ... graceful ... bright and readable.
(_British Weekly_).
Treffende beschrijvingen van landschap... Geestig en
pathetisch. (_N. Gron. Courant_).
Vol humor en geest--weemoed en melancholie.
(_Dor. Courant_).
Ingenaaid =90 cts.= Gebonden =f 1,25=.
The Further Adventures of O'Neill.
Thans kregen wij de avonturen van O'Neill te hooren bij een
vriendelijke boerenfamilie..., zijn dwaze ontmoeting in
Gouda.... in het Haagsche Bosch.... en zijn verwarring met
"dank u" en "thank you".... en Kanape.... en de D-trein--het
was alles niet om na te vertellen.
Ingenaaid =90 cts.= Gebonden =f 1,25=.
Published by J. M. BREDEE, Rotterdam.
THE FURTHER ADVENTURES OF
O'NEILL IN HOLLAND
BY
CUEY-NA-GAEL,
(REV. J. IRWIN BROWN, B. D.)
Author of "An Irishman's Difficulties in Speaking Dutch",
"Ireland, its Humour and Pathos".
SECOND EDITION.
[Illustration]
ROTTERDAM
J. M. BREDEE.
1914
For permission to give recitations or
readings from this book, application
should be made to the Publisher.
CONTENTS.
Page.
CHAPTER I.
Where did O'Neill's Dutch come from? 1
CHAPTER II.
Some Characteristics of the Compendious 5
Guide to Dutch
CHAPTER III.
How O'Neill learnt to pronounce 14
CHAPTER IV.
An Interlude and an Application 18
CHAPTER V.
The Wegwijzer on Dutch Syntax 23
CHAPTER VI.
The Grammatical Caress 29
CHAPTER VII.
A Gossipy Letter 34
CHAPTER VIII.
The Surprises of the Maas 44
CHAPTER IX.
The Thunderstorm 55
CHAPTER X.
The Devoted Nurse 68
CHAPTER XI.
Gossip and Diplomacy 76
CHAPTER XII.
A Study in Character 83
CHAPTER XIII.
Belet! 97
CHAPTER XIV.
The Day-train 104
CHAPTER XV.
Supper at a Boerderij 112
EPILOGUE 129
CHAPTER I.
WHERE DID O'NEILL'S DUTCH COME FROM?
A GREAT WORK.--THE CIVILIZED LADY.--BOYTON ANIMATES THE LEARNER.
We had all heard something of Jack O'Neill's adventures in Holland; and
the members of our informal little club in Trinity College Dublin were
positively thirsting for fresh details. There must be much more to
tell, we felt sure: and we had a multitude of questions to ask.
Now the odd thing about O'Neill was that he didn't like to be
interrogated; he preferred to tell his story straight through in his
own way. He had evidently studied hard at the Dutch language, but
without the least regard for system: and it was clear that he had been
by no means careful in the choice of text books. Indeed, he seemed to
be rather sensitive on this point, no doubt regretting that, in the
ardour of his early enthusiasm, he had just taken the first grammar
and exercise-book he could lay his hands upon, without consulting
anybody. It was that curious plan of doing everything by himself that
doubtless led him into the initial mistake, that of trying to get any
sense out of "Boyton and Brandnetel".
Apparently he had kept that "literary find" by him for reference, and
for digging stray idioms and rules out of, while he added more modern
volumes to his working stock. This would account for his glibness in
rattling off out-of-the-way phrases, and for that rich bizarre flavour
which his simplest Dutch utterance undoubtedly had.
But we didn't know the worst.
Intentionally vague though he was in talking about his authorities, we
ran him to earth (so to speak) at last in the matter of "Boyton and
Brandnetel"; and had a happy evening.
That book was all O'Neill told us, and more. Printed on paper that
seemed a cross between canvas and blot-sheet, it bore the date 1805.
It was very Frenchified, and the English puzzled us extremely. Here is
the Preface--or a part of it.
=The following WORK was, originally, compiled by William Boyton.
After passing +five Editions+, a Sixth appeared +partly enlarged,
and partly improved+, by Jac. Brandnetel. This last Edition was
published, at the Hague, in the Year, 1751.=
=The several particles, of Speech, are arranged by the usual Order;
and Declare with precision; every rule being followed, with
practical exercise. This Mode, of teaching, being already
+appreciated+; it will not be deemed Essential; nor do we, point
out, the utility of it. As to Syntax; it is fully treated: whilst,
+last not least+, cares have been exercised, to unite ease with
simplicity, accuracy with idiom, and animate the +Learner+. It aims
at the pupil of +High-Life+, and to acquire the Polish of the
+civilized Lady+.=
=THE HAGUE, 1805.=
This brilliant introduction raised our expectations to fever heat. We
had never encountered such an army of commas before; and as for the
English--!
+Anything+, evidently, might be met with inside the covers of William
Boyton's 'Work'.
The best of it, of course, was its extraordinary politeness. Every
other question was prefixed with "Verschoon my", and went on something
like this: "Zoudt gij zoo goed willen zijn mij toe te staan...". Then
there were some plain and unornamental phrases such as "Men weet
nooit hoe een koe eenen haas vangt".--This was labelled 'proverbial
expression', and was translated, happily enough, by "The unexpected
often occurs."
"Ik heb er het land aan je" was rendered mysteriously: "I have an
objection", "I cannot agree".
That was puzzling enough, and delightfully vague! But for all that
found the phrase doubly underlined by O'Neill and marked by him as
'useful for general conversation'.--